Sulphonamide residues in eggs following drug administration via the drinking water

The aim was to determine concentrations of sulphadimidine (SDM) and sulphadimethoxine (SDT) in eggs following oral administration through drinking water for 5 days (0.5g-1 for SDT, 1 and 2gl-1 for SDM). Residues of sulphonamides in albumen and yolk were monitored by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection. The limit of quantification was 0.005 µg g-1 for the two egg components. The results indicate that 0.9–1.4% of the dose administered was deposited in eggs. Maximum concentrations in albumen were much higher than those in yolk. More than 75% of the overall sulphonamides detected in eggs was concentrated in the albumen. The residue levels declined below the limit of quantification within 12–20 days for albumen and 14–15 days for yolk after treatment was discontinued.